Inp.polri.go.id - Makassar. The Indonesian Navy secured a mysterious missile-shaped object discovered by a local fisherman in the Tanakeke Islands, South Sulawesi, on Saturday (18/4/2026) to undergo intensive forensic analysis in Makassar.

"We cannot yet conclude the exact nature of this object, but it clearly resembles a missile," said Takalar Naval Post Commander, First Lieutenant Marine Hamzah, as cited by antaranews.com.

Mappakasunggu Police Office Second Inspector Sumarwan  said that the local police initially coordinated the evacuation after a fisherman spotted the one-meter-long blue cylindrical device floating near the coast. Authorities immediately deployed a military truck to transport the suspicious find to the Navy’s Regional Command headquarters in Makassar  for safety.

Officials have urged residents to avoid touching any unidentified maritime debris and report sightings to the nearest precinct. The investigation remains ongoing to determine if the device contains live explosives or represents a sea glider used for underwater surveys.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)